King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
¶ The king's heart [is] in the hand of the LORD, [as] the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.
Complete Jewish Bible:
The king's heart in ADONAI's hand is like streams of water -he directs it wherever he pleases.
Berean Standard Bible:
The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases.
American Standard Version:
The king’s heart is in the hand of Jehovah as the watercourses: He turneth it whithersoever he will.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
The king's{H4428} heart{H3820} is in the hand{H3027} of the LORD{H3068}, as the rivers{H6388} of water{H4325}: he turneth{H5186} it whithersoever he will{H2654}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Proverbs 16:9
- ¶ A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.
Proverbs 20:24
- ¶ Man's goings [are] of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?
Ezra 6:22
- And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for the LORD had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.
Acts 7:10
- And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.
Proverbs 16:1
- ¶ The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, [is] from the LORD.
Daniel 4:35
- And all the inhabitants of the earth [are] reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and [among] the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
Ezra 7:27
- ¶ Blessed [be] the LORD God of our fathers, which hath put [such a thing] as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which [is] in Jerusalem:
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Commentary for Proverbs 21:1
Proverbs 21:1 is a verse that speaks to the sovereignty of God over human leaders, specifically referencing a king. The historical context of this proverb likely reflects the experiences of ancient Israel, where the monarchy played a central role in the life of the nation. The verse uses the metaphor of a river to illustrate the extent to which God can direct the heart of a king. Just as rivers naturally flow where they are guided by the landscape, the verse suggests that the rulings and decisions of a king can be influenced and directed by the divine will.
The themes present in this verse include divine sovereignty, the power of God over human affairs, and the idea that leaders are subject to a higher moral and spiritual authority. It implies that despite the apparent power and autonomy of earthly rulers, their ultimate direction is under God's control. This concept would have been particularly reassuring to the people of Israel, who often faced the whims of kings and the uncertainty of political life. The verse reassures believers that God's purposes will prevail, even in the political realm, and encourages a trust in divine providence rather than solely in human governance.
In summary, Proverbs 21:1 conveys a powerful message about God's dominion over all aspects of life, including the decisions of those in positions of great power. It serves as a theological assertion that God's will is active in the world and that human authority is limited and guided by a divine hand. This perspective would have provided comfort and a sense of ultimate justice to the ancient audience, as it continues to do for readers today who reflect on the interplay between faith and political power.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H4428
There are 1922 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מֶלֶךְ
Transliteration: melek
Pronunciation: meh'-lek
Description: from מָלַךְ; a king; king, royal. - Strong's Number: H3820
There are 550 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לֵב
Transliteration: lêb
Pronunciation: labe
Description: a form of לֵבָב; the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything; [phrase] care for, comfortably, consent, [idiom] considered, courag(-eous), friend(-ly), ((broken-), (hard-), (merry-), (stiff-), (stout-), double) heart(-ed), [idiom] heed, [idiom] I, kindly, midst, mind(-ed), [idiom] regard(-ed), [idiom] themselves, [idiom] unawares, understanding, [idiom] well, willingly, wisdom. - Strong's Number: H3027
There are 1447 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָד
Transliteration: yâd
Pronunciation: yawd
Description: a primitive word; in distinction from כַּף, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote (as follows); a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),; ([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, [idiom] enough, [phrase] fellowship, force, [idiom] from, hand(-staves, -y work), [idiom] he, himself, [idiom] in, labour, [phrase] large, ledge, (left-) handed, means, [idiom] mine, ministry, near, [idiom] of, [idiom] order, ordinance, [idiom] our, parts, pain, power, [idiom] presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, [phrase] swear, terror, [idiom] thee, [idiom] by them, [idiom] themselves, [idiom] thine own, [idiom] thou, through, [idiom] throwing, [phrase] thumb, times, [idiom] to, [idiom] under, [idiom] us, [idiom] wait on, (way-) side, where, [phrase] wide, [idiom] with (him, me, you), work, [phrase] yield, [idiom] yourselves. - Strong's Number: H3068
There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְהֹוָה
Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה. - Strong's Number: H6388
There are 10 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פֶּלֶג
Transliteration: peleg
Pronunciation: peh'-leg
Description: from פָּלַג; a rill (i.e. small channel of water, as in irrigation); river, stream. - Strong's Number: H4325
There are 525 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מַיִם
Transliteration: mayim
Pronunciation: mah'-yim
Description: dual of a primitive noun (but used in a singular sense); water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen; [phrase] piss, wasting, water(-ing, (-course, -flood, -spring)). - Strong's Number: H5186
There are 207 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָטָה
Transliteration: nâṭâh
Pronunciation: naw-taw'
Description: a primitive root; to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great variety of application; [phrase] afternoon, apply, bow (down, -ing), carry aside, decline, deliver, extend, go down, be gone, incline, intend, lay, let down, offer, outstretched, overthrown, pervert, pitch, prolong, put away, shew, spread (out), stretch (forth, out), take (aside), turn (aside, away), wrest, cause to yield. - Strong's Number: H2654
There are 71 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חָפֵץ
Transliteration: châphêts
Pronunciation: khaw-fates'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to incline to; by implication (literally but rarely) to bend; figuratively, to be pleased with, desire; [idiom] any at all, (have, take) delight, desire, favour, like, move, be (well) pleased, have pleasure, will, would.